Patents by Inventor William J. Garrison
William J. Garrison has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10334315Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables a viewer to view all the available content on a mosaic display, even when advertisements would otherwise prevent a viewer from doing so. Whenever a channel is displaying non-program content, the mosaic may instead display pre-recorded content for the current program on that channel prior to the ad-period.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLCInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock
-
Patent number: 9946438Abstract: Techniques for enhancing a user's viewing experience include providing new opportunities for viewing information or manipulating data during the viewing experience. The user may take an action that has an intended purpose of changing a mode of play of content displayed at the client device. An event prompted by the user action, such as a pause or rewind of the displayed content, may be an event that triggers at least one extended option associated with the displayed content.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLCInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock
-
Patent number: 9894152Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the generation of an interface showing content being consumed by a group of devices. A central device may gather secondary streams of content consumed by each device within the group of devices, and the secondary streams may be used to generate an interface comprising thumbnails showing content consumed by the device associated with the respective thumbnail. Secondary streams of content may be generated at the central device or may be retrieved by the central device from a client device serviced by the central device.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLCInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock
-
Method and apparatus for representing storage capacity allocation of an audio/video recording device
Patent number: 9609300Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock -
Publication number: 20170085947Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables a viewer to view all the available content on a mosaic display, even when advertisements would otherwise prevent a viewer from doing so. Whenever a channel is displaying non-program content, the mosaic may instead display pre-recorded content for the current program on that channel prior to the ad-period.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock
-
Publication number: 20170034261Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the generation of an interface showing content being consumed by a group of devices. A central device may gather secondary streams of content consumed by each device within the group of devices, and the secondary streams may be used to generate an interface comprising thumbnails showing content consumed by the device associated with the respective thumbnail. Secondary streams of content may be generated at the central device or may be retrieved by the central device from a client device serviced by the central device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock
-
Method And Apparatus For Representing Storage Capacity Allocation Of An Audio/Video Recording Device
Publication number: 20160330424Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock -
Method and apparatus for representing storage capacity allocation of an audio/video recording device
Patent number: 9426407Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing allocation of capacity of a storage unit within an audio/video (AV) recording device is described. In one example, a quantity of AV program data stored on the storage unit is determined. A storage schedule for new AV program data that is defined over a predetermined time period is obtained. A deletion schedule for old AV program data that is defined over the predetermined time period is obtained. Temporally dynamic indicia is produced that is representative of allocation of the capacity of the storage unit over the predetermined time period in response to the quantity of stored AV program data, the storage schedule, and the deletion schedule. A pictorial representation of the temporally dynamic indicia may then be displayed on a display coupled to the AV recording device.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock -
Publication number: 20140281985Abstract: Techniques for enhancing a user's viewing experience include providing new opportunities for viewing information or manipulating data during the viewing experience. The user may take an action that has an intended purpose of changing a mode of play of content displayed at the client device. An event prompted by the user action, such as a pause or rewind of the displayed content, may be an event that triggers at least one extended option associated with the displayed content.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: General Instrument CorporationInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert F. Elcock
-
Patent number: 7911513Abstract: An arrangement for simulating a short depth of field in a captured videophone image is provided in which the background portion of the image is digitally segregated and blurred to render it indistinct. Thus, the displayed video of a user in the foreground is kept in focus while the background appears to be out of focus. Image tracking or fixed templates are used to segregate an area of interest that is kept in focus from the remaining captured video image. Image processing techniques are applied to groups of pixels in the remaining portion to blur that portion of the captured video image. Such techniques include the application of a filter that are alternatively selected from convolution filters in the spatial domain (e.g., mean, median, or Gaussian filters), or frequency filters in the frequency domain (e.g., low-pass or Gaussian filters). User-selectable control is optionally implemented for controlling the type of foreground/background segregation technique utilized (i.e.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert Fitzgerald Elcock
-
Patent number: 7872590Abstract: A system and method for providing expanded functionality from a remote control handset, wherein multiple command functions are effected by the actuation of a single key or control surface. A remote control handset is programmed to recognize the actuation of keys or control surfaces associated with multiple-functionality. In response to a standard actuation (such as the momentary depression of that key) of a multiple-functionality key, a primary remote control signal is generated by the remote control handset for purposes of controlling a first remote system or component. The remote control handset is further adapted to test for and recognize a non-standard actuation (such as double-clicking or prolonged depression) of a multiple-functionality key, and responsively generate a second remote control signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventor: William J. Garrison
-
Publication number: 20080259154Abstract: An arrangement for simulating a short depth of field in a captured videophone image is provided in which the background portion of the image is digitally segregated and blurred to render it indistinct. Thus, the displayed video of a user in the foreground is kept in focus while the background appears to be out of focus. Image tracking or fixed templates are used to segregate an area of interest that is kept in focus from the remaining captured video image. Image processing techniques are applied to groups of pixels in the remaining portion to blur that portion of the captured video image. Such techniques include the application of a filter that are alternatively selected from convolution filters in the spatial domain (e.g., mean, median, or Gaussian filters), or frequency filters in the frequency domain (e.g., low-pass or Gaussian filters). User-selectable control is optionally implemented for controlling the type of foreground/background segregation technique utilized (i.e.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventors: William J. Garrison, Albert Fitzgerald Elcock
-
Publication number: 20080248818Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for allowing a recipient to reply to an inbound message. The method begins by receiving a message from a sender using a first communication service. The message includes a first contact identifier for the sender. A plurality of user-selectable contact identifiers is presented to the recipient for communicating with the sender using a plurality of different communication services associated therewith. A selected one of the plurality of contact identifiers other than the first contact identifier is selected or otherwise identified by the recipient. A second message is transmitted to the sender using the selected contact identifier and the communication service associated therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Prema Venkatesulu, Robert H. Folk, William J. Garrison, Yucheng Jin
-
Publication number: 20080162451Abstract: A method and system for managing media content is provided. The method includes extracting a signature from the media content in the electronic device. The method also includes retrieving a set of signatures. Further, the method includes comparing the signature with the set of signatures. Moreover, the method includes performing at least one action on the media content, based on the result of the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventor: William J. Garrison
-
Patent number: 7307523Abstract: A method for monitoring motion of an entity within a predetermined boundary established using a location detection technology. Sensor data is acquired from a motion sensor that senses non-positional movement of the entity and is attachable to the entity. A learned movement pattern associated with the entity is accessed. Computing techniques are used to analyze the acquired sensor data in relationship to the learned movement pattern. A current movement pattern is identified based on the analysis. It is determined whether the current movement pattern is a reportable movement pattern, and if so, a predetermined action is performed.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Thomas F. Kister, William J. Garrison, Glen P. Goffin, David C. Goodwin, Charles R. Hardt